"Holasek said there are probably a couple thousand homes that draw water from the lake. Many homeowners leave hoses in the water year-round, increasing the likelihood of zebra encrustation." ---- Those homeowners might want to change that method. I'm sure they can afford to attach their automatic lawn sprinkler systems to a city water source...

or just get intakes made or lined or infused with copper. The mussels seem to hate it as they simply leave it alone.

@ rshackleford –– Many communities on Lake Minnetonka do not have municipal water systems. In fact, most homeowners in the area draw water from private wells and, as noted in the story, the lake for watering lawns.

Welcome to our new reality! Over the course of the summer, thousands of boats will enter and leave Lake Minnetonka. To think that the DNR, with their new and ridiculous procedures, will keep this problem from spreading to other lakes is complete folly- there is absolutely no way to decontaminate every boat at every landing across the state all summer long. Once again, the DNR has allowed the very purpose of their existence to be ruined.

Not being able to water your lawn if you live on the lake is a nuisance. Not being able to put out house fires is a matter of public safety.

boni320-The DNR is well aware that at best they can only slow the spread of zebra mussels. But by claiming the expansion of zebra mussels to be a crisis and by telling the media, if given free reign, they can stop the spread, they will be able to increase their budget, expand their employee roster and subsequently there will need to be more managers within the DNR (promotions) and higher salaries for all.

If I'm not mistaken, isn't Pleasant Lake in North Oaks a "Private" lake..meaning no public access? hhmmmm and they have Zebra Mussels? how did they get there? probably NOT from them dirty boaters and fisherman going from lake to lake would be my guess...

And still the House republicans could not control their giddiness at being in power long enough to allow increased penalties for people who deliberately spread zebra mussels. They acted like it was all one big joke at the House hearing.

This is a preview of what's coming to a lake near you, because our legislature refuses to take decisive action to slow the spread of zebras. These things are being spread by careless people who do not dry and drain their boats and jet skis, and people who put in and take out docks. Boats and jet skis should only be able to be used in one lake for the season, at least until the spread has slowed.

Seriously, there is no way you're going to stop the spread of zebra mussels from the Mississppi, Minnetonka, Prior, Mille Lacs and a number of other lakes already. You're barely going to be able to slow it down. There's no point spending much money or losing much freedom trying to prevent it. The cat's already out of the bag. These things can last weeks out of water and can hitch rides on heron, ducks or other water fowl. The thing that differentiates them from local mussels is their tendrils that allows them to grab hold and attach themselves to things. When they're young and most mobile, are too small to see. There's no power washing station that will come close to dislodging or killing them. Some sure, but not anywhere close to all. They're an annoyance, true, but we will have to get used to them. Any money spent should be directed and understanding how to get used to them and educating the public on what to watch for and how to manage intakes and such things with them around.